Looking for guidance on a 7.5cm lung mass found in my mom's lung.

I’m so sorry your family is going through this. It’s completely understandable to feel like everything is crashing down around you—this is a lot to process, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Take things one step at a time, and don’t hesitate to lean on your support system. Even small steps forward can help bring some clarity.

It’s natural to feel a whirlwind of emotions right now. Try to take things day by day and focus on what you can control: preparing for appointments, gathering information, and supporting your mom. Writing down your thoughts and questions can help you feel less scattered, and finding moments of calm—whether through a walk, meditation, or just sitting quietly together—can be grounding.

Waiting is an ever-present part of a cancer journey. It often feels like there’s always another appointment or test result to wait for. My wife and I try to make it easier by finding a new place to eat with each appointment. It gives me something to look forward to that day beyond the medical visit and helps create positive moments in an otherwise stressful time.

The pulmonologist will likely review the X-ray and discuss next steps, like ordering a CT scan (if it hasn’t already been done), scheduling a biopsy, and potentially arranging staging tests such as a PET scan and brain MRI/CT to check for spread. Depending on your mom’s symptoms, they may also address breathing support or symptom management.

I highly recommend taking notes or asking if you can record the visit. Even though I thought I was well-prepared to discuss my own diagnosis, I found it challenging to keep up. By the time I had my head wrapped around one thing, the doctor was already two steps ahead. Thankfully, the Physician Assistant gave me a printed summary of our conversation, which was incredibly helpful.

Here are some questions you can ask. You can add to them. Write them down and take them with.

Are there any non-cancerous possibilities that could explain the mass?

Based on her scans and symptoms, what are the next immediate steps?

What’s the timeline for further testing and getting results?

Should we be preparing to meet with other specialists, like an oncologist, surgeon, or radiation oncologist?

Should we consider involving a nurse navigator to help coordinate care? (I didn’t use one at first, but they can make things much easier.)

Are there symptoms we should be monitoring more closely, and what should prompt us to seek urgent care?

How can we support her lung health and overall well-being while waiting for a diagnosis?

Can we get a record of the conversation to review in case we missed anything?

It sounds like you’re doing all the right things by asking thoughtful questions and preparing ahead of time. While the waiting and unknowns are incredibly hard, every step you take now will help your mom get the care she needs.

And while a biopsy is necessary to confirm lung cancer, please know that even if it is cancer, it’s not the same diagnosis it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Treatments have come a long way. Advances in the last two decades have been transformative, often outpacing the entirety of modern medicine before them. I was given a 0% chance of surviving two years, and that was four and a half years ago. While I may have been an outlier at the time, more and more people are joining our ranks every day.

You and your mom are in my thoughts. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have more questions or need support.

I'm glad I could be of even the tiniest bit of help. Things might seem to be moving so slowly, but everything is being done deliberately and with care.

A 7.5 cm lung mass is undeniably large, and the team will proceed with the assumption that it could represent a malignancy. However, it's important to remember that it’s not guaranteed to be cancer. A biopsy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.

At this point, the smooth margins might suggest a benign cause or even a very slow-growing malignancy. The next steps will provide clarity and help guide the best course of action.